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Amendments on ballot for Tuesday election
Published November 1, 2009
SEGUIN — If you weren’t one of the 2,411 Guadalupe County residents who voted early in Tuesday’s Constitutional Amendment election, county officials want to make sure you know that on election day, you must vote in your precinct — and that some have been consolidated because of the anticipated low turnout.
Guadalupe County Elections Administrator Sue Basham said interest is anticipated to be low in this election, as there are only two local issues on it — whether or not Schertz will continue its curbside recycling program and a $2 million Selma bond initiative to restore a historic site in that community.
But the amendments can sometimes have a dramatic effect on taxpayers and voters, and Basham said she hopes to see a solid turnout, nonetheless.
“These amendments change our laws and could possibly be in effect for the next 100 years or more,” Basham said. “I would hope more people would take an interest in that and come out to vote. But if you look at the statistics for past Constitutional Amendment elections, it doesn’t look promising.”
Still, the early voting turnout has been good compared to in 2007, when only 1,742 voters cast ballots early — around 1 percent of the registered voters in the county.
“I’d like to see voters come out,” Basham said. “But I’ve been watching the early voting totals coming out from various counties around the state, and ours look pretty good.”
Basham said some polling locations have been consolidated to reduce costs in light of the anticipated low turnout, and it is important, she said, for those wishing to cast ballots to check to ensure they’re going to the right location so they don’t end up having to stand in line twice.
“Before heading to your normal polling location on Election Day, you may want to check your precinct number at the county elections office Web site to see where voting will be held,” Basham said.
To vote, a voter must vote in the precinct in which they are registered to vote and they must have identification such as a driver’s license or a utility bill, bank statement or other official documents that include the voter’s name and address where they are registered to vote.
But the best thing to have by far is their voter registration card, which includes precinct information, Basham said.
If you don’t have your card, you can check your address against the precinct maps on the Web site or you can call Basham’s office at 303-6363 during business hours Monday or while polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday.
“Our Web site is the perfect place to get most of your questions answered,” Basham said. “But if you call, we’ll be glad to help you.”
Guadalupe County has consolidated some polling places because of anticipated low turnout in Tuesday’s Constitutional Amendment election. Check your voter registration card or the precinct map on the county’s elections Web site, www.guadalupe-elections.com to determine your precinct and then check this list to determine where to vote.
Precincts 107, 108, 109: Kingsbury Fire Station, 1060 FM 1104, Kingsbury.
Precincts 103, 104, 105, 106, 110, 113: Argent Court, 953 S. State Highway 123 Bypass, Seguin.
Precincts 101, 102, 111, 112: Mosaic Community Church, 1201 W. Court St., Seguin.
Precincts 201, 207, 208, 209, 210, 211: The Silver Center, 510 E. Court St., Seguin.
Precincts 202, 203, 204: American Legion Hall, 618 E. Kingsbury, Seguin.
Precincts 205, 206: Geronimo VFW Post, 6808 N. State Highway 123, Geronimo.
Precincts 301, 305: Schertz Baptist Church, 600 Aero, Schertz.
Precincts 302, 303, 304: Schertz Community Center, 1400 Schertz Parkway, Schertz.
Precincts 306, 307: Schertz United Methodist Church, 3460 Roy Richard Dr., Schertz.
Precincts 402, 403: Hilltop Country Church, 2719 FM 725, New Braunfels.
Precincts 406, 407: New Berlin Community Center, 8815 FM 775, New Berlin.
Precincts 401, 404, 405: St. John’s Lutheran Church, 606 S. Center St., Marion.
Local elections
A $2 million bond proposal for voters who live in the city of Selma and a question of whether city of Schertz voters wish to continue its curbside recycling program. For sample ballots, log on to www.guadalupe-elections.com .
Constitutional Amendments
Proposition 1: “The constitutional amendment authorizing the financing, including through tax increment financing, of the acquisition by municipalities and counties of buffer areas or open spaces adjacent to a military installation for the prevention of encroachment or for the construction of roadways, utilities, or other infrastructure to protect or promote the mission of the military installation.”
Proposition 2: “The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for the ad valorem taxation of a residence homestead solely on the basis of the property’s value as a residence homestead.”
Proposition 3: “The constitutional amendment providing for uniform standards and procedures for the appraisal of property for ad valorem tax purposes.”
Proposition 4: “The constitutional amendment establishing the national research university fund to enable emerging research universities in this state to achieve national prominence as major research universities and transferring the balance of the higher education fund to the national research university fund.”
Proposition 5: “The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to authorize a single board of equalization for two or more adjoining appraisal entities that elect to provide for consolidated equalizations.”
Proposition 6: “The constitutional amendment authorizing the Veterans’ Land Board to issue general obligation bonds in amounts equal to or less than amounts previously authorized.”
Proposition 7: “The constitutional amendment to allow an officer or enlisted member of the Texas State Guard or other state militia or military force to hold other civil offices.”
Proposition 8: “The constitutional amendment authorizing the state to contribute money, property, and other resources for the establishment, maintenance, and operation of veterans hospitals in this state.”
Proposition 9: “The constitutional amendment to protect the right of the public, individually and collectively, to access and use the public beaches bordering the seaward shore of the Gulf of Mexico.”
Proposition 10: “The constitutional amendment to provide that elected members of the governing boards of emergency services districts may serve terms not to exceed four years.”
Proposition 11: “The constitutional amendment to prohibit the taking, damaging, or destroying of private property for public use unless the action is for the ownership, use, and enjoyment of the property by the State, a political subdivision of the State, the public at large, or entities granted the power of eminent domain under law or for the elimination of urban blight on a particular parcel of property, but not for certain economic development or enhancement of tax revenue purposes, and to limit the legislature’s authority to grant the power of eminent domain to an entity.”
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